When preparing for a job interview it is important to develop a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Asking the right questions helps demonstrate interest in the position and the work done by the company. Asking questions during an interview is also a great way to show you’ve done your research on the company or the person that is interviewing you. Below are several questions you may ask during an interview along with tips on how to react to the interviewer’s responses.

1. What does the day to day look like in this position? 

This question will help you obtain additional information regarding the position you’re applying to. When the interviewer responds to this question, attempt to connect your past experience with the role described. This helps the interviewer perceive you as an experienced and informed candidate.

2. How long have you been with the company?

This lets the interviewer know that you’re interested in growing with the company rather than using it as a stepping stone.

3. What does success look like in this position? How is that success measured? 

Asking this question gives you more information on the goals you’ll need to achieve in order to succeed in the company. After the interviewer responds, compare the company’s idea of success to any of your past positions. This will portray you as someone who has succeeded in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

4. How does x value held by the company manifest itself in the company’s culture?

This question will help you view how your own views may connect with those held by the company. Feel free to connect your own views to those held by the company.

5. What skill is most important for success in this position? 

Each position has its own set of challenges. Whether that is being organized, a self-starter, or mathematically inclined it’s important that you let the interviewer know that you possess that skill. Provide a specific example of when you’ve demonstrated this particular skill.

6. Is there anything about my resume that makes you question whether I am a good fit for this role?

This question demonstrates that you’re committed to the position and will give you an opportunity to clarify any uncertainty the interviewer may feel about your experience.

7. I noticed your company recently launched x product/completed y project. What would you say was the most challenging part of doing that? (Make sure you ask about a project that is somehow related to the department or role you’re interviewing for.)

This shows the interviewer that you’ve done substantial research on the company and that you understand the work the company does. Feel free to discuss similar challenges you’ve experienced and how you’ve overcome those challenges in the past.

8. What is your favorite part about working at this company? 

This question gives you more information on the perks provided to the employees at this company. After the interviewer responds, you may describe how you feel about their favorite part about working at the company.

9. Why is this position available? 

This will help you learn about any challenges associated with being successful in this position. This will also give you the opportunity to explain what skills and knowledge you possess that make you an ideal candidate.

10. What goals is the company currently focused on, and how does this team work to support those goals?

This will help you learn more about the company’s present culture and if there are any overarching challenges currently affecting this company. During your interview, attempt to present yourself and your past experience in a way that can help contribute to achieving the company’s goals. If any company you’ve worked at in the past has had similar goals, describe how you contributed to that company to ensure the goals were met.

11. From what you’ve learned from the person formerly in this position, how can I improve outcomes? 

This question shows the interviewer that you’re a growth-minded individual and that you’re unafraid to take on a challenge. Depending on the interviewer’s response, you may have an opportunity to explain how you’ve delivered outcomes when faced with similar circumstances.

12. How would you describe the company’s or department’s strengths and weaknesses? What can I do to support the team? 

This question demonstrates that you’re interested in supporting the company/department in the long run. It will also allow you to know which strengths you should feature throughout the duration of the interview process. Hiring managers like to see candidates that want to grow within an organization by contributing to the company’s overall success.

13. What are the next steps in the interview process (this should be the last question you ask during each interview)? 

The answer to this question will give you insight on when you should follow up with the interviewer and help you prepare for the second interview. This may also encourage the interviewer to move the hiring process faster instead of sitting on your application for several weeks.

What Questions You Should Not Ask During a First-Round Interview 

While there are many questions you should ask during a first-round interview, there are some questions you should ask later in the interview process. Below are questions you should avoid asking during a first-round interview and recommendations on how and when it is appropriate to ask these questions.

1. What is the salary for this position?

While this is an important part of the job offer, it is better to save this question for later in the interview process. Asking this question will give the interviewer the impression that you are someone who is solely interested in growing their income. Companies are interested in hiring employees that are driven by organizational success rather than individual success. 

2. What are the benefits offered to employees at this company? 

This should be an important factor to consider as you explore job opportunities; however, at the beginning stages of each interview, you should be focused on how you can apply your experience to the position rather than what benefits the company offers.

3. What is the company’s work from home policy? 

Although many companies are happy to let their employees work from home, this question may signal that you’re not interested in connecting with the company and its employees. At this stage of your interview process, you should focus on landing the job before looking for ways out of the office.

4. I belong to an x belief system or religion which prohibits me from working on specific days or times. Is that okay?

While the interviewer will be grateful for your honesty and religion is an extremely just reason to miss work, this question may cause the interviewer to think you’re “no-person” rather than a go-getter. It is very likely that your manager will happily make appropriate accommodations, you’re better off bringing this up once you’ve been given the job offer.

5. I already booked a vacation with my family. Is it okay if I miss these days? 

Similarly, the interviewer may appreciate your honesty but this question comes off presumptuous. Avoid requesting days off before you’ve been given a job offer.

6. What is the company’s policy on paid time off? 

Although PTO is an important consideration when comparing job offers, you should refrain from asking this question early in the interview process. Candidates that ask this question come off as lazy and the type of employee lacks motivation.

7. Is there a strict dress code policy? 

As a rule of thumb, you should always prepare to dress professionally for every interview. This lets the hiring manager or recruiter know you value how you present and will in turn value how you present the company. This question should be asked after you’re offered a position in order to adequately prepare for your first day.

8. What is employee turnover like? 

Although this question provides valuable information, it is often too pointed and may come off as negative. Asking questions like “how long have you been here?” or “Why is this position available?” will give you the information you’re asking for without the risk of sounding negative. It is possible for the hiring manager to think you may have had a negative experience in your last job which can damage the interviewer’s perception of you as a potential employee.

The way you present yourself during an interview will greatly impact the likeliness of you being hired. Be mindful of the questions you ask and always research the company beforehand in order to present yourself as an informed candidate. Prepory’s comprehensive career coaching coaches provide company-specific interview prep amongst a plethora of additional services to prepare you to successfully land your dream job.

You’ve applied to a bunch of jobs, maybe you received 0 calls, maybe you had a couple of phone interviews that didn’t lead anywhere, maybe you even sniffed the finish line but it slipped away in today’s competitive market. In any case, cold emails are a great way to stand out in a sea of applicants. It requires time, attention to detail, and research!

Understanding how to write a cold email for a job is an art, here’s how to create a masterpiece.

1.Choose the right person – You want your email to land in the inbox of a person that is involved in some capacity to the hiring process at the company. Start with looking at the company’s website and searching for a staff directory page. This is often listed under “About Us” as: Meet The Team, Who We Are, Our Leadership or any variation of these phrases. You are looking for someone with Human Resources in their title or the person in charge of the department you are seeking to work in. If you are looking at startup companies, you will likely not find someone with a Human Resources or Hiring Manager title. In that case, you want to look for someone with an Operations and/or Administration title. LinkedIn is also a great source to search for the right person. Search for the company name and select “See all X employees on LinkedIn.” Again, you are looking for employees with Human Resources in their title or the person that manages the department. You can cross-reference the name you found on the company site to LinkedIn to put a face to a name. If they are active on LinkedIn, learn more about their role at the company and their interests.

2. Find their email – In an ideal world, you would find the email on the company website. If it is not on the website, google search their full name and the company name. Scan through the top hits you see and you may find an email in the top few hits. You can also find them on LinkedIn and add them if you have a mutual connection, or if you have premium. If not, guess the email. Below are the most common email formats I’ve seen over the years:

Jane@company.com (first name only)

Jdoe@company.com (first initial, last name)

Jane.Doe@company.com (first name.last name)

JaneDoe@company.com (first name last name)

*We are trying to email Jane Doe at Career Coach Company

3. Address the person correctly – Consider the kind of company you are reaching out to. If it’s a young start-up company, a first name is great. If it’s a large, traditional corporation, use a traditional salutation and last name greeting. Even if it’s a small company but in a traditional industry (e.g. law office) stick to a traditional salutation. Also, double, triple, quadruple check the spelling of their name. A lot of people get offended when their name is spelled incorrectly. It demonstrates a lack of attention to detail. It is the first thing they read when opening the email and you could lead to the immediate closing of the email.

4. Open with a warm greeting – If it’s December, a simple acknowledgement of the upcoming holidays and/or the new year: “Hi [name], I hope everything is well and you are ready for the new year!” If it’s spring and you live in a northern state, an acknowledgment of a smooth or rough winter ending could be another icebreaker. “Hi [name], I am glad to have made it through another rough winter.” This is a great time to bring up any possible connections. If you had a former employee pass along the hiring manager’s name, mention them. “Hi [name], my friend and former employee of [company name] passed along your name and email.”

5. Make a connection – Using what you found on the company website and LinkedIn, make a connection based on something beyond their role at the company. Maybe the two of you went to the same college, ‘like’ the same nonprofit on LinkedIn, or worked at the same company in the past. Make it a point to connect your interest to theirs. “Hi [name], I hope everything is well and your new year is off to a great start. I have been researching [company name] and noticed you also went to the University of Florida – go gators!”

6. Get straight to the point – After your greeting and connection, get straight to the point of why you are emailing them. If you are writing in regards to a job posting you saw, address the role. If you are writing for a general work opportunity at the company, say that and discuss how your skills could translate to a number of roles. Your email should be short and sweet. Limit the email to 250 words and space your sentences to mini paragraphs to make it easier to read. One block of 250 words can be overwhelming and could lead to the person exiting your email without reading it.

7. Be specific – Why do you care about this company and role in particular? Are you considering a career change? Are you looking for an internship, consultant role, full-time, or part-time? What is your work background? Do you want to work for a large company? What qualities do you possess that make you an ideal candidate for this role? Do not simply list out vague and open-ended qualities such as hard-working and detail-oriented.

8. Make a request – Be clear and start small. Request a time to chat on the phone, or grab a cup of coffee near their office. Cold emailing is inherently an aggressive tactic to grab someone’s attention. It requires thoroughness and respect to ensure you do not come off as forceful. Do not flat out ask for a job in the email and avoid demands such as, “call me at 123-456-7890.”

9. List your availability and ask them for theirs – Keep your subject line short and simple. It should be less than 10 words. Below are a few scenarios:

If anyone referred you to the hiring manager: “Inquiry on [job position] – [name] referred”

If your experience matches what they are seeking, you can mention that in the subject line. For example, let’s say you are interested in a social media manager position and you have 4 years of experience as a Social Media Manager “Experienced Social Media Manager seeking an opportunity with [company name]”

Lastly, you could generically put “Inquiry on [job name]”

10. Include your email and phone number in your signature – Make it easy for the reader to know how to contact you. If you have a solid Linkedin profile, meaning you have a clear profile picture, up-to-date and accurate reflection of work experience, and connections, including your Linkedin URL in the signature.

11. Build your LinkedIn profile – If you are sending a cold email for a job, have a nice LinkedIn page. The same way you are researching people, the person that reads your email could search your name. LinkedIn is a commonplace for professionals to connect. Now, how to make LinkedIn work for you? Assure your profile picture is a clear one of your face, preferably looking at the camera and smiling. Have a headline that includes keywords of job titles you are looking for. Your work experience will be up-to-date and accurate. Also, have brief descriptions under each job title that highlight your major accomplishments.

12. Review your social media pages – If they are public, is there anything you would not want an employer to see? If so, either delete or archive the post. If you are scrolling down your instagram or twitter, see a post and hesitate on whether or not it’s appropriate, remove it. Alternatively, you can switch your profile to private. If you opt to switch to private, still ensure your biography does not have any curse words or other inflammatory language. A platform like Instagram could be a chance for you to showcase your skills in managing a social media page or artwork. This could be beneficial for jobs like social media coordinator, graphic designer, or marketing associate.

13. Attach your resume – Attach your resume as a PDF, not a Word document. A Word document can be accidentally manipulated or the format can change when it is opened on another device. Converting your resume into a PDF will minimize room for error. Your resume is your foot in the door. Even if your cold email is stellar, a poor resume will guarantee no response. Consider hiring a resume writer or scour the internet for tips and examples. Also, if you are a student or alumni, you may go to your college career counselor at the career center for assistance. Review your resume to check for any mistakes.

14. Proofread your email – Proofread your email for spelling errors, grammar, and overused words. You want to make a great first impression. Allowing a friend or peer to review it also helps. After working on the same email consistently, sometimes it is hard to catch the easiest of errors. It would be contradictory to state you are a detail-oriented person with spelling errors in your resume or email. This is an opportunity to present yourself as a strong candidate with solid writing skills.

15. FOLLOW UP – Everyone is busy. Inboxes get cluttered and sometimes emails get lost. Follow up on your email 2 days later. If you really want the job, do not be shy to demonstrate your interest. Avoid sending cold emails on Fridays, especially if it’s summer. Summer Fridays are common, particularly in the Northeast, and people are commonly out of the office early or not in the office at all. Generally, people are ready for the weekend and don’t want to add to their to-do list. If you send your email on Monday, you can follow up on Wednesday and hope to hear back before the end of the week.

There you go, you got the formula – research away! Remember, worst-case scenario, you get no response, so what? Best case scenario, you land the job you want.

Alejandra Hernandez